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While on the topic of family, also wanted to send all of my best to the Snyder family, and I urge you all to do the same through prayer or whatever manner works for you. Cancer is something that touches us all at one time or another - its tentacles unavoidable - and the news about Tanya Snyder's battle with it is saddening. And, of course, we continue to pull for little Micah Doughty, who has proven already to share his father's perseverance and spirit, as he continues to recover from his kidney transplant. Getting to spend time with the Doughty family around Christmas a few years back is something I will always cherish. They could not have been more welcoming and I'll appreciate that.

As for football stuff, I've been pretty immersed in family stuff the past week, but have been able to pick up the phone a time or two. The Redskins front office continues to take shape, and the team recently signed Eric Schaffer, who oversees the salary cap and aids in contract negotiations, to a new deal, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. The Redskins refused to grant permission to New Orleans to interview Schaffer for their cap vacancy earlier this offseason, and he has been one of the longest-serving members of the football operations staff. The Redskins declined to comment on whether or not Louis Riddick received a new deal. The contracts on many scouts and football operations staff are set to expire this summer, and Vinny Cerrato promoted Scott Campbell ahead of Riddick earlier this offseason.